House Speaker-Designate Livingston Resigns

Kai-Shun Soo

    Republicans lost seats in the midterm elections, admidst the Republican's campaign to push for impeachment against President Clinton,  House speaker Newt Gingrich resigned. Republicans voted House Appropriations Committee chairman Bob Livingston to succeed him.  Livingston took over leadership of the party and would assume House Speaker appointment in Jan 99.

    In Dec, news broke out that Hustler Magazine had uncovered details of adulterous affairs that Livingston had had throughout his marriage. Livingston admitted his affairs to the media on Dec 17, saying he would not lie about it.

    In his speech the House debate on articles of impeachment against Clinton, Livingston announced that he will not assume appointment of House speaker in Jan 99, and will instead leave congress.
 

Timeline

Nov 3: US midterms elections took place in the midst of the Republican effort to impeach President Clinton, Republicans lost 5 party seats.  Within the party, they were calls for changes in House leadership and direct challenges to House Speaker Newt Gingrich, amongst which Bob Livingston was a favorite.

Nov 6: House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced his resignation as party leader.

Nov 18: House Republicans endorsed Rep. Bob Livingston to succeed Newt Gingrich as speaker.

Dec 16: News that Investigators from Hustler, a pornographic magazine, had unearthed details of adulterous affairs that Livingston had had throughout his marriage. A political associate from Louisiana learned of the Hustler story and called Livingston to break the news on Wednesday - the eve of a scheduled vote on impeachment.

Dec 17: Livingston released his statement to the media, admitting his occasions of extramarital affairs. " I have decided to inform my colleagues and my constituents that during my 33 year marriage to my wife, Bonnie, I have on occasion strayed from my marriage and doing so nearly cost me my marriage and my family."

Dec 19: In the House debate on articles of impeachment against President Clinton, Livingston announced that he would not stand for speaker of the house on January 6, 1999 ,  but will remain as a backbencher into the 106th congress, after which he would leave congress. "So I must set the example that I hope President Clinton will follow."
 

Key Individuals, Places and Organizations:     Bob Livingston, Newt Gingrich, GOP (the Republicans Party), Hustler Magazine, Brnyt Flinn (Publisher of Hustler).

Special Terms and Concepts:    Impeachment, Felony, scandals.